Green Sanctuary October News

Relational Organizing, Sunday October 6 Lunch then Learn

Who Knew? People are more likely to vote when someone they know asks them. Relational organizing is the idea of reaching out to friends, neighbors, and family members to ask them to take action on an issue or election that matters to them. Learn more about relational organizing, make a plan to ask people you know, and practice how to do it without antagonizing the folks you care about.

UUA Climate Justice Revival on Saturday November 16 and Sunday November 17

During the revival on Saturday we will carry out 5 interconnected activities:

1. Drawing a RICH PICTURE of a future where whole communities thrive
2. Building a SYSTEMS MAP that takes our challenging realities into account by recognizing the barriers that keep us from thriving
3 BUILDING CAPACITY for community care by figuring out how to overcome those barriers
4. Using SACRED CIRCLEs to chart a course for transformative action by identifying what communities need to thrive and what brings us joy
5. Forming INTERDEPENDENT COMMITMENTS to change that connect with what communities need and what brings us joy.

For children and youth, we will have related climate justice curriculum and activities. The event is from 10:00 am to 2:30. Breakfast refreshments and lunch are provided.

Then, on Sunday November 17, we will have a special service to celebrate the hard and hopeful work of Saturday.

Join us and over 300 other UU Congregations to Bring Climate Justice to Our Communities!

October Better Together – Transform your Bonds with Food

Each month of Better Together we have actions that members of the congregation can take to address climate Mitigation, Adaptation, Resilience, and Justice. Fall is about Mitigation and our focus for October is transforming our bonds with food. Examine how your food habits fit with the world you want to live in and chart a path to change.

1. Explore recipes for plant-based meals and set personal/family goals to transition to more plant-based meals. You might start with one meal a week. For that, check out Meatless Mondays at https://www.mondaycampaigns.org/meatless-monday . Mix it up by trying out plant-based meals from other cultures, like African peanut stew with garbanzo beans, plant-based Palek Paneer, or pasta with Cauliflower Alfredo. If you have particular dietary restrictions (IBS, Low FODMAP, Gluten Free, etc.) Just google your type + vegetarian or vegan
2. Join a plant-based diet community. Check out a community group like the Vegan Community of Eastern Iowa in Iowa City – https://www.veganeasterniowa.org/. Join an online plant-based community. Check out Forks Over Knives – https://www.facebook.com/groups/ForksMealPlanner/, Plant Based Nutrition Support Group – https://www.pbnsg.org/, or Center for Nutrition Studies (Cornell University) https://nutritionstudies.org/
3. Read a book that explores the philosophical issues around eating animals. The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan explores the human dilemma of being an evolved omnivore. Animal Liberation by Peter Singer is the classic philosophical argument for not eating animals. Some We Love, Some We Hate, and Some we Eat by Hal Herzog tries to get at the distinctions we make between that animals we care about, our pets, the animals we despise, rats, and animals we eat, like pigs.
4. Learn more about the effect of food choices on the environment by watching one of these documentaries. You should keep in mind that the visuals are likely to be intense. Eating our Way to Extinction (YouTube, Amazon Prime, Roku, Tubi, Apple, & Peacock Premium) shares interviews with the people most affected by our choices and puts the effects into context. Seaspiracy (Netflix) examines the effect of commercial fishing, among other things, on sea life.. Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret (YouTube, Amazon Prime) explores the effects of animal agriculture on climate change, water use, deforestation, and dead zones.

UUS Green Sanctuary Vision, Mission, and Logo

At our July meeting, we realized we did not have a Vision and Mission to guide our work. With Deb Gallagher taking the lead, we surveyed Green Sanctuary’s members to develop a new vision and mission statement. Jan Weaver contributed a logo.

Vision – A Sustainable and Just World for All
Mission – In meaningful collaboration with the UU Congregation, the Green Sanctuary Team provides leadership, education, support, and action in the following intersectional areas: Congregational Transformation, Mitigation, Adaptation and Resilience, and Environmental and Climate Justice.

Social and Environmental Justice Sundays

Green Sanctuary is collaborating with the Social Justice Team to hold Social and Environmental engagement activities on second Sundays. Look for this sign and help us make good trouble by writing a letter, penning a postcard, or signing a petition for a SEJ cause. (SEJ is pronounced “sedge” like the plant.)

Our October Meeting Will be Hybrid!

Green Sanctuary is planning an in-person meeting at church Wednesday October 9, 7 pm but we also have a zoom option at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88132264216  for folks who prefer it. Contact Jan Weaver – jan.weaver57@gmail.com for more information or to get on our email list. Items for the next meeting include composting budget, batteries to provide backup power, upcoming Climate Justice Revival, divestment, and exploring becoming a resiliency hub.